May 01, 2012

One Year Ago Today Pres. Obama Did Exactly What Any Other Pres. Would DoAnd Why He Has More in Common With So. Park's Timmy than, say, Jimmy Carter*BUMPED*

Why was every one so happy that President Obama gave the order to get Osama bin Laden? Something any other President in our history, living or dead, would not have hesitated in doing? Why do we celebrate something that should have been reflexive?

We don't celebrate breathing. We don't act surprised when someone displays the ability to drink water. Signing Osama bin Laden's death warrant is about the moral equivalent of any other non-cognitive bodily function. It's that big of a no-brainer.

And let's not forget, Obama hesitated. He had to think about whether or not he wanted to go after Osama bin Laden. It's like weighing the moral consequences of putting one foot in front of the other and walking.

The fact that this caused him angst says much more about his character than the fact that he eventually ordered the hit.

The only explanation for why all of us were so relieved is that we weren't sure this guy had the nerve to do it. In other words, we were pleasantly surprised.

That's how low of an opinion we had of him. That he was so feckless and weak that when he did what any other man would do we patted him on the back and said, way to go Sparky!

We treat President Obama in the Osama bin Laden killing like we would the learning disabled kid who makes a C on a term paper. Or a one-handed kid who plays baseball and who manages to get on first base every fifth game or so.

President Obama is this generation's Timmy. He inspires us. The way those kids at the Special Olympics inspire us when the cross the finish line. It warms our hearts to know someone like him can, from time to time and with a great deal of effort, rise to the occasion and do the same things the rest of us do on a daily basis.

We were blessed with legs, but this guy? He inspires us by the way he hobbles around on those crutches. It's almost like he's normal.

Bless his little heart, I'm so proud that he gave that order!

And don't blame me for insulting the President. It's you who, by praising him for doing what any other person would do, insults him through the revelation of the low standards by which you judge him.

Ryan Zinke, a former Commander in the US Navy who spent 23 years as a SEAL and led a SEAL Team 6 assault unit, said: ‘The decision was a no brainer. I applaud him for making it but I would not overly pat myself on the back for making the right call.

‘I think every president would have done the same. He is justified in saying it was his decision but the preparation, the sacrifice - it was a broader team effort.’...

Campaigning in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Mr Romney responded to a shouted question by a reporter by saying: ‘Even Jimmy Carter would have given that order.’ ...

A serving SEAL Team member said: ‘Obama wasn’t in the field, at risk, carrying a gun. As president, at every turn he should be thanking the guys who put their lives on the line to do this. He does so in his official speeches because he speechwriters are smart.

‘But the more he tries to take the credit for it, the more the ground operators are saying, “Come on, man!” It really didn’t matter who was president. At the end of the day, they were going to go.’

So, in celebration of the one year anniversary of our President's great achievement, and without further ado, I present Barack Obama Timmy and the Lords of the Underworld.